WHEN THE DARKNESS COMES I NICK CLARK

Walls

Walls

"Lourdes, bebita."

The sound of Liza's trembling voice broke the silence that hung almost like a spell over the room, bringing everybody back to life, the stench of death acrid in the air. Within moments, mother and daughter were in each others' arms, Lourdes burying her face in Liza's shoulder, the tears running afresh down her cheeks.

"It's okay, baby girl," Liza soothed, running her hand over Lourdes's tangled dark hair, "I'm here now." In her touch was silent apology for attending to the Salazar family's needs before those of her own children, the act almost serving as penance for being prepared to leave the Salazars' behind, even after they had given her and hers shelter. But Lourdes understood; that her mother had always been a healer at heart, putting others before herself, expecting her offspring to do the same.

"Timmy," Lourdes choked out, raising her head as she spoke, Liza cupping her chin, "he's - he's all torn up" -

- "I'll take a look at him," Liza said firmly as Chris collapsed down onto the sofa, Alicia slowly rising to her feet, pushing the tumbled hair out of her eyes, "see if I can patch him up" -

- "We've got more things to worry about than a damned dog," Madison snapped, startling Liza and Lourdes, ignoring Travis's restraining hand on her arm, "there's a passel of strangers seemingly on my neck now and a corpse lying on my best rug to boot - where the hell is Nick!?" she suddenly demanded, rounding on everyone, eyes wild. "Where the fuck is my son!?"

"I'm here, Mom," Nick said in a dead voice as he stepped through the French doors, "so don't create" -

Madison rushed forwards, followed by Alicia, the two of them throwing themselves on top of Nick, sending him almost reeling. But he awkwardly regained his balance, just standing there, almost enduring their embrace, Madison exclaiming loudly over his bloodied nose. "What the hell happened to your face, Nick!?" she said in disbelief. "Did someone attack you!?"

Nick didn't look at Lourdes. "It's nothing, Mom," he said in the same dead voice, before deliberately detaching himself from her arms, heading out into the hallway instead, Madison making to go after him, Alicia stopping her, shaking her head wordlessly.

As Madison then went over to inspect the corpse, Alicia hanging back, wrapping her arms around herself, Travis nervously went over to Lourdes, feeling like a thousand years had passed since he had spoken to his daughter in the truck. Like Liza, he had prioritized the Salazars above his own family, only ensuring his son and daughter were safe with his step-children, before dealing with the most pressing problem at hand. "Lourdes," he said anxiously, hesitating before drawing him to her, careful to keep her at arm's length from his bloodied clothes, "I'm sorry - I'm sorry I couldn't'" -

- "Don't," Lourdes whispered, "don't - don't talk about it."

As she spoke, Madison turned around, brow furrowing, looking at Lourdes in confusion, Travis having not told Madison what had happened to Lourdes in the barbershop. As Travis pressed his lips to Lourdes's forehead, he saw this bit of byplay, Madison's gaze immediately meeting his, almost demanding an answer, Travis shooting her a warning look in turn, silently saying, not now. He then glanced over at Chris sitting on the sofa, shoulders hunched, head bent forwards. Sensing his father's stare, Chris looked up, the expression in his eyes one of turmoil, defiant and vulnerable all at once. Travis jerked his chin, holding his other arm out, Chris remaining rooted to the sofa, before suddenly flinging himself forwards, clinging to Travis and Lourdes, a little boy once again.

~*~

Lourdes flung herself into her bedroom, pressing her back against the wooden paneling of the door, the silence shoring her up like a lifebelt. After they had told Travis and Madison about the dead swarming the sidewalk; of the lone one outside Susan's house, as well as Susan herself now haunting the fence that divided the properties, Travis and Madison had gone outside to see what the score was, Madison armed with the shotgun, Travis with the baseball bat. In their absence, Chris, Lourdes and Alicia had helped Liza patch Timmy up, Lourdes keeping the dog calm, holding his head in her lap, Alicia assisting Liza with a deft hand, helping Liza disinfect and then dress his wounds with clean bedsheets Chris had cut up. Despite appearances, the injuries were thankfully superficial, but Liza warned they would need to change the dressings daily, as well as checking to see how it was healing to ensure there was no infection.